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Monday, January 21, 2008

An update of casualty data up until the end of 2007 has now been published for the casualty monitor project for Iraq. Total British casualties for the year stand at 1950, including 47 fatalities and 603 aeromedical evacuations.

The most striking feature of the pattern of the statisitics is the steep rise in combat casualties during the first half of the year, a continuation of a trend starting in autumn 2006. This increase then abruptly reversed following the British withdrawal from Basra City. Casualty rates towards the end of the year ended up returning to the levels seen in the summer of 2006.

With the British military presence much reduced and their strategic ambitions minimised, it can be hoped that casualties on both sides will continue to remain relatively low during 2008.